The Tennessee police officer who was fired after having affairs with multiple male colleagues, some taking place while on-duty, claims she was sexually “groomed” in a new lawsuit against her former department.
Former La Vergne police Officer Maegan Hall faced public ridicule and negative publicity since her firing, which the lawsuit claims has hampered her ability to find a new job, WSMV reported.
“Where Ms. Hall sought role models at her new job, she instead found predators,” the lawsuit said, according to the New York Post. “In place of offering professional development, her supervisors and the chief of police groomed her for sexual exploitation.”
The suit names the city of La Vergne, former Police Chief Burrel “Chip” Davis, and former police Sgts. Lewis Powell and Henry “Ty” McGowan.
“They colluded in using their authority to systematically disarm her resistance and entrap her in degrading and abusive sexual relationships, even sharing tips on the best ways to manipulate and exploit her,” the suit continues.
“Maegan Hall felt trapped in the role assigned to her at the City of La Vergne Police Department and, in an attempt to escape, she nearly killed herself,” the lawsuit says. “Then, the City blamed her for everything. This lawsuit seeks justice for Maegan Hall.”
Earlier this year, the La Vergne Police Department was thrust into the national spotlight after it was revealed that the department launched investigations into claims that Hall had been having affairs with multiple male colleagues, some while on-duty.
Five officers were fired over the scandal, Hall, Powell, McGowan, Patrol Officer Juan Lugo Perez and Detective Seneca Shields. Three others were suspended, K-9 officer Larry Holladay, Patrol Officer Patrick Magliocco and Patrol Officer Gavin Schoeberl.
Chief Davis was fired earlier this month after it was discovered that he “was aware of the sexual misconduct within his department and never reported or disciplined any of the officers involved,” according to a press release from the city.
The investigation was released on Dec. 28 and found that the escapades among the officers in the department took place in homes, hotels and at parties. One was allegedly carried out during a heavy-drinking hot-tub party at an officer’s home where Hall reportedly took off her top.
There were also two reported on-duty affairs in which Hall was accused of performing oral sex on Powell and Shields at the police station and in the department’s gym.
Transcripts of interviews between Hall and investigators revealed that Hall claimed she had “cracked” after considering divorce from her husband and her sexual escapades “kind of got out of hand.”
The new lawsuit claims that some members of the force pressured Hall to partake in sexual activities with them, which they allege caused her to eventually give in.
“Ms. Hall is entitled to an award of punitive damages against defendants Powell, McGowan, and Davis in an amount to be determined by a jury for the acts committed with malice or reckless disregard described in this complaint,” the suit read.
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